Henry Aceves ’20: Theatre, Performance, and Post-Colonial Studies

Emerson Today is profiling recent graduates to hear about their time at the College and their plans for the future.

Hometown: San Diego, California

Q: Tell me about your time at Emerson.

Aceves: I was a BFA Theatre major with a minor in Global & Post-Colonial Studies! I was very involved in student theatre and served as the historian, and then artistic director, of Emerson Shakespeare Society, as well as being a member of Mercutio Troupe.

I performed in productions with Emerson Shakespeare Society, Mercutio Troupe, Kidding Around, and RareWorks Theatre Company. I also work in the ArtsEmerson box office. I performed in two Emerson Stage shows: Measure for Measure and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot; I did dramaturgy on Urinetown, and Amanuensis, the NewFest show this year that was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.

Q: What was your favorite class and why?

Aceves: In the [Performing Arts] department, I really loved my Intro to Fight Direction class with Ted Hewlett, as it was a really fun and informative dive into armed and unarmed stage combat, stage weapons safety, and fight choreography.

Outside of the PA department, I learned SO much in Nigel Gibson’s Post-Colonial Cultures class. Not only did we learn about the major theorists and theories of post-colonialism, but we were able to have really solid class discussions surrounding them and connected them to our lives.

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at Emerson?

Aceves: It’s hard to choose a favorite, but the Saturday evening performance of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot was particularly special, because it’s the first college show of mine that my parents were able to come out to see. 

Q: What song or movie best encapsulates or most reminds you of your college years?

Aceves: “To Noise Making (Sing)” by Hozier

Q: What are you most proud of?

Aceves: How much I grew, personally and professionally. Also, that I was able to take performance classes despite not being a performance major, thanks to my advisor and some absolutely wonderful professors!

Q: What are you doing (or hoping to do) next?

Aceves: I’m planning to stay in Boston for another year, have an internship with a literary department, and explore what life is like not as a full-time student for the first time!